Graduation project
Semur / Smoor
Stacia Tasmin
"Food generates a larger narrative beyond its palatable experiences and flavours."
WHAT
The culture and history of a dish that takes the shape of a cookbook.
WHY
The history of Semur, a type of stew cooked by braising ingredients for a long time, reflects the evolving relationship between Indonesia and its former Dutch colonists. The dish is a vehicle for understanding the complex colonial mechanisms of two merging food cultures.
HOW
Although it draws from the cookbook format, this book represents more than just instructions for preparing food. Exploring cultures and history, and the transformation of a dish in terms of identity and exchange, the book sheds light on the colonial and postcolonial relationship between Indonesia and the Netherlands.